title: A cross-sectional comparison of drinking patterns, alcohol use and related medical morbidities in a secondary versus tertiary setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol Dependence exists in different spectrums at different settings and associated with various medical morbidities, disability and health care utilization costs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the drinking patterns, alcohol use disorders and alcohol related medical morbidities in patients diagnosed with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (ADS) and attending out / in-patient psychiatry services at secondary and tertiary care centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional comparative study was done among the patients diagnosed with ADS attending psychiatry services at District hospital, Udupi and Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. Serial sampling was done. Patients having any other psychiatric illnesses were excluded. The two groups were compared in relation to socio-demographic variables, drinking related variables, patterns of drinking and alcohol related medical morbidities identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences in some socio-demographic parameters among the patients from the two different treatment centers were found with secondary level hospital (N=50) having more illiterate, laborers and below the poverty line population in comparison to the tertiary level hospital (N=75). Maximum frequency of gastrointestinal morbidities was seen in both the hospital population, irrespective of the patterns of drinking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol use disorders and alcohol related medical morbidities show some variations in their presentations in the different treatment centers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dhulikhel Hospital -Kathmandu University Hospital, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavre Nepal.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Risal
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tharoor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D010045:Outpatients; D063127:Secondary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D063128:Tertiary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*